Course Econ
14/ GBUS 14- Personal Finance
Instructor Chris
Zilg
E-Mail czilg@gavilan.edu
Office Hours 11:05 - 11:35am
S or by arrangement
Phone 408-855-5567
X5835
Semester Spring
2007, Section #6520
Room MHG12
Time
Materials Required Personal
Finance: An Integrated Planning Approach
By Bernard J. Winder & Ralph R. Frasca. 7th
Edition
(ISBN 0-13-185619-7)
Calculator
We
will be using the Online learning Center that comes with new textbook. If you
buy a used book, you must purchase a new Access Code Code (ISBN:
0-13-187255-9). You can order the access code card online by logging on to www.prenhall.com/finance and
entering the access code card ISBN (0-13-187255-9) in the search bar located at
the top of the page.
Course Description
This course is designed to
assist individuals to analyze their financial affairs for lifelong decision
making. Elements and concepts of financial planning and decision making in the
areas of budgeting, taxes, borrowing, money management, insurance, investments,
retirement, and estate planning will be examined. This course is also listed as
ECON 14. This course has the option of a letter grade or credit/no credit.
Student Learning Outcomes
First, students will
understand the importance of planning and have a basic understanding of
planning techniques; and second, to develop students’ abilities to think
critically and to make effective decisions.
Grading Your letter
grade will be assigned based upon the following percentages:
90% or higher…..A
80-89%................ B
70-79%................ C
60-69%................ D
Less than 60%.....F
|
3 Tests (50 points each) |
|
150 points |
|
Case Study Assignments (1) |
|
50 points |
|
Homework: Chapter Review
Exercises (15) |
|
75 points |
|
Class Attendance & Participation
|
|
40 points |
|
Understanding Class
Syllabus |
|
5 points |
|
Total |
|
320
points |
Textbook Website:
The publisher has created a
web site www.prenhall.com/winger that
includes online study guide, practice quizzes and articles.
Required Study Hours
In order to be successful in
this class, students need to allocate at
least 4 hours of study time outside the classroom per week.
Tests
Each test is based on the
main concepts in the text. Tests consist of multiple-choice questions and short
answer problems.
Please bring
Tests are planned for the
dates noted on the calendar and will be given at the beginning of the class
session.
ONLY ONE MAKE-UP TEST IS
ALLOWED, AND ONLY IF A STUDENT CAN PROVIDE A VALID AND DOCUMENTED REASON FOR
MISSING THE TEST AND GET INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE.
The best way to prepare for
the tests is to read each chapter in your text and to complete the questions in
the back of the chapters. Also, you can test your understanding of each chapter
by taking a sample quizzes.
Case Study
Choose two chapter exercises
on the Steele Family. Write a response that addresses the questions as outlined
at the end of each chapter. Minimum two pages double – spaced. Your paper
should be free of any grammatical and spelling errors.
Do not retype the case.
Case Study #1: Due May 5th
No late assignments
will be accepted.
Homework: Chapter Review
Exercises
I believe you will be
successful in the course if you complete the homework assignments prior to the class in which they are
discussed. Late homework will be decremented
by one letter grade for each day it is late. In other words, if your homework is
two days late the best grade you can receive is a “C”. Incomplete homework
receives partial credit. All homework must be submitted in class or by e-mail.
Multiple choice review exercises and/or short essays will be given each week
that cover the reading assignment.
Class Attendance &
Participation
Students are also evaluated
based upon their contribution to class discussions. Contributions should
reflect the extent to which a student has studied the chapter under discussion
in advance and has completed the related homework assignments. Maintaining an
attitude conducive to proper classroom learning is required.
You may lose some or all of
class participation points for having more than three absences or tardiness.
Understanding Class
Syllabus Quiz
Read the syllabus at least
three times over the period of a week. Most problems arise from students
ignoring or missing information included in the syllabus. To prevent this, I
have designed a quiz called “Understanding Class Syllabus” which will be given
at the beginning of the class session
on February 10th.
Academic Honor Code (Education
Code Section 66300,AP5500)
Definition of Plagiarism: To
plagiarize is to “steal and use (the ideas or writings of another) as one’s own.”
(American Heritage Dictionary of the Engish Language. 1975). You are
committing plagiarism if you:
Emergency Procedures
It is the student’s
responsibility to know the evacuation procedures, evacuation route, and
assembly area for this classroom. In case of an emergency, you are to follow
the directions of your instructor. When directed to evacuate the classroom, be
sure to take all of your belongings when you leave and remain with your class
in the assembly area until you receive further directions.
Student Responsibilities
Cell phones, pagers and iPods
are not allowed in this class. Students who want to take this class Credit/No
Credit must e-mail the instructor with their request by March 2, 2007. If you
choose to drop this course, YOU must turn in a drop slip to Admission and
Records. Last day to drop with a “W” is April
27, 2007.
Smoke Free Campus
Statement( Education Code BP 6500)
In accordance with the
Statutes of the State of
Disability Statement
(Americans with Disabilities Act (
Unlawful
Discrimination/Sexual Harassment (Education Code sections 212.5, 66252,
66281.5)
The District is committed to
providing an academic and work environment that respects the dignity of
individuals and groups. The District shall be free of sexual harassment and all
forms of sexual intimidation and exploitation.
Title VI, Title IX and
Americans with Disabilities Act/Section 504/508
To file complaints in the
following areas please contact the Equal Opportunity Officer, Joseph D. Keeler,
Vice President of Administrative Services, HR 101 (408-848-4715).
The areas are:
Class Calendar
Spring 2007
Personal Finance
Date Topics
2/3 Class begins: Syllabus Review
Start Chapter 1: “The Basic
Framework”
2/10 Understanding Class Syllabus Quiz – At the beginning of class session
Chapter 1: “The Basic Framework”
Chapter 2: “The Time Value of Money” Pg. 31 – 37
Chapter 3: “Financial Statements and Budgets: Where
are you now and Where are you
Going?”
Chapter 1 & 2: Homework Due
2/14 Last Day to drop with a refund.
2/17 Presidents’ Day Instructional Break (School
2/24 Case
Study Chapters are selected by the Students: Steele Family
Chapter 3: “Financial Statements and Budgets: Where
are you now and Where are you
Going?”
Chapter 4: “Taxes: The Government’s Share of your Rewards”
Chapter 3 & 4: Homework Due
3/2 “No Record Shown”… If you drop by this
date it doesn’t appear on the student’s
permanent record.
3/2 Deadline for Grading Option. Cr/NC/Letter
Grade
3/3 Chapter 5: “Cash: Management Funds for
Immediate Needs”
Chapter
6: “Short-Term Credit Management: Consumer Credit”
Chapter 5: Homework Due
3/10 Chapter 6: “Ethical Issues in Business”
Preparation Review for Test 1#:
Chapter 1-6
Chapter 6: Homework Due
3/17 Test
Chapter 1-6: Test will be from
Chapter 7: “Consumer Durables: The
Personal Auto”
3/24 Review Test # 1
Chapter 7: “Consumer Durables: The
Personal Auto”
Chapter 8: “Housing: The Cost of
Shelter”
Chapter 7: Homework Due
3/31 Chapter 8: “Housing: The Cost of Shelter”
Chapter 9: “Financial Markets and
Institutions: Learning the Investment Environment
Chapter 8 & 9: Homework Due
4/7 Chapter 10: “Investment Basics:
Understanding Risk & Return”
Chapter 11: “Stock and Bonds: Your Most Common
Investments” (Omit pg 276-281)
Chapter 10 & 11: Homework Due
Date Topics
4/14 Chapter 12: “Mutual Funds and Other Pooling
Arrangements: Simplifying and (Maybe)
Improving Your Investment
Performance”
Preparation Review for Test #2:
Chapter 7-12
Chapter 12: Homework Due
4/21 Test
Chapter 7-12: Test will be from
Chapter 13: “Property and Liability
Insurance: Protecting Your Lifestyle Assets”
4/27 “W”
Deadline: Courses dropped by this date will appear on the student’s permanent
record with a notation of “W” for withdrawn.
4/28 Review Test #2
Chapter 13: “Property and Liability Insurance:
Protecting Your Lifestyle Assets”
Chapter 14: “Health Care and Disability Insurance:
Protecting Your Earning Capacity”
Chapter 13: Homework Due
5/5 Chapter 14: “Health Care and Disability
Insurance: Protecting Your Earning Capacity”
Chapter 15: “Life Insurance and
Estate Planning: Protecting Your Dependents
Case
Study #1: Due May 5th
Chapter 14 & 15: Homework Due
5/12 Chapter 16: “Retirement Planning: Planning
for Your Long-Term Needs”
Preparation Review for Test #2:
Chapter 7-12
Chapter 16: Homework Due
5/19 Test
Chapter 13-16